Immaculate Conception Chaldean Mission
About
Immaculate Conception Chaldean Misson
Immaculate Conception Chaldean Mission, previously known as Boston Catholic Chaldean mission, was established on February 22nd 2017 by Bishop Francis Kalabat. The mission belongs to the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Detroit, MI, and is part of the Archdiocese of Boston Culture Diversity. Currently, the mission holds two to three masses per month, normally every other week in the month at 1:30 PM on Sundays. On certain occasions, a priest travels from Detroit or Chicago to celebrate a Mass (mainly on Holy Days) like Christmas, Holy Week, Baptism, Weddings, and First Communion. In addition, two Latin priests from the Archdiocese of Boston and as well as Maronite Priests celebrate Masses on Sundays in Chaldean Rite, with permission from Bishop Kalabat. The current place of worship is at Mary Immaculate of Lourdes Catholic Church in Newton, MA.
A little history about our mission. Church and Christian faith are the center focus of our community members who suffered greatly for their faith back in Iraq. Christians are often attacked and persecuted, and a lot of our families sacrificed their homes, jobs, and even family members until they settled here in the USA.
Christianity was spread in Iraq by St. Thomas the Apostle and Mar Addi and Mary, and it dates to the first century. The mission has Iraqi Christian immigrants and refugees and other Christian Arab nationalities from different catholic rites (Syriac, Chaldean, Coptic, and Armenian) and Orthodox together to celebrate a Mass in Arabic, English, and Aramaic languages based upon Chaldean liturgy. In addition, families come to Mass from across New England specifically Massachusetts, and New Hampshire (Ludlow, Natick, Framingham, Worcester, Fall River, Newton, Lynn, Salem, Medford - MA, and Northwood, Nashua NH).
After each Mass, we gather for coffee hour to connect with each other as a community. During the year, we celebrate many Catholic events, like sacraments, the Feast of the Cross, the Month of Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Month of Mother Mary. During the Lent season, we pray Stations of the Cross and celebrate all Masses during Holy Week. For religious education, we hold classes during Mass times. For First Communion, we hold classes on Sunday at 6:30 PM on ZOOM.